Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Salary in the United States

How much does an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk in the United States is $51,539 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $63,337
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,996 to $57,715
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,860
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View as table View as graph 25% $46,996 10% $42,860 90% $63,337 75% $57,715 $51,539 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $57,715 $4,810 $1,110 $28
Average $51,539 $4,295 $991 $25
25th Percentile $46,996 $3,916 $904 $23
Check out Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Job Openings in the United States
Administrative Clerk Rush Truck Leasing

Rush Enterprises - Columbus, OH

Physician Oncology Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Physician Neurology Ohio Locum Tenens Locums Physician

MD Staff, LLC - Columbus, OH

Search More Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Salaries

An Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $44,952
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $50,252
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,361
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $61,974
  • Expert (over 8 years): $88,007
Levels Salary
Payroll C... Level Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk$44,952
Administr... Level Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk$50,252
Payroll C... Level Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk$56,361
Payroll C... Level Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk$61,974
Payroll T... Level Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk$88,007
$44,952 0 yr
$50,252 < 2 yrs
$56,361 2-4 yrs
$61,974 5-8 yrs
$88,007 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerks. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $57,064.
  • California: $56,848.
  • Massachusetts: $56,090.

Top Paying Cities for Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerks

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $65,006
  • San Francisco: $64,295
  • Oakland: $62,940

What Skills Can Increase an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.77% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • HRIS (Mentioned in 2.15% Job Postings): HRIS is a management system designed specifically to provide managers with information to make HR decisions. Is a system that lets you keep track of all your employees and information about them.
  • Workday (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): A cloud-based human resource management software system that unifies a wide range of HR functionality into a single system.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 5.77%
HRIS 2.15%
Workday 1.32%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk's salary.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • ADP Workforce Now: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Business Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement
$55,662
8%
ADP Workforce Now
$55,147
7%
Business Administration
$54,116
5%
Workday
$53,601
4%
Analytical Skills
$53,601
4%
Collaboration
$53,601
4%
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Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$67,001$32.030%
Financial Services$67,001$32.030%
Internet$67,001$32.030%
Pharmaceuticals$67,001$32.030%
Software & Networking$67,001$32.030%

How Education impacts an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerks enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $52,098 and $55,707).

Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 43.6%
Associates 24.1%
Bachelors 27.9%
Masters 2.5%
Doctorate 0.1%
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Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk

Salaries for an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $43,351 in 2023 to around $43,190 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$43,351
2024
$43,526
2025
$43,190
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $43,351
2024 $43,526
2025 $43,190
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk

Here are companies hiring for Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    12 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    14 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    17 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    17 Days Ago

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FAQ about Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Administrative Assistant/Payroll Clerk roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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